Appendices

Appendices

Appendix: National Classification Code

National Classification Code

Classification decisions are to give effect, as far as possible, to the following principles:

adults should be able to read, hear and see what they want;

minors should be protected from material likely to harm or disturb them;

everyone should be protected from exposure to unsolicited material that they find offensive;

the need to take account of community concerns about:

depictions that condone or incite violence, particularly sexual violence; and

the portrayal of persons in a demeaning manner.

Publications

Publications are to be classified in accordance with the following table:

Item

Description of publication

Classification

1

Publications that:

describe, depict, express or otherwise deal with matters of sex, drug misuse or addiction, crime, cruelty, violence or revolting or abhorrent phenomena in such a way that they offend against the standards of morality, decency and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults to the extent that they should not be classified; or

describe or depict in a way that is likely to cause offence to a reasonable adult, a person who is, or appears to be, a child under 18 (whether the person is engaged in sexual activity or not); or

promote, incite or instruct in matters of crime or violence

RC

2

Publications (except RC publications) that:

explicitly depict sexual or sexually related activity between consenting adults in a way that is likely to cause offence to a reasonable adult; or

depict, describe or express revolting or abhorrent phenomena in a way that is likely to cause offence to a reasonable adult and are unsuitable for a minor to see or read

explicitly depict nudity, or describe or impliedly depict sexual or sexually related activity between consenting adults, in a way that is likely to cause offence to a reasonable adult; or

describe or express in detail violence or sexual activity between consenting adults in a way that is likely to cause offence to a reasonable adult; or

are unsuitable for a minor to see or read

Category 1 restricted

4

All other publications

Unrestricted

Films

Films are to be classified in accordance with the following table:

Item

Description of film

Classification

1

Films that:

depict, express or otherwise deal with matters of sex, drug misuse or addiction, crime, cruelty, violence or revolting or abhorrent phenomena in such a way that they offend against the standards of morality, decency and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults to the extent that they should not be classified; or

describe or depict in a way that is likely to cause offence to a reasonable adult, a person who is, or appears to be, a child under 18 (whether the person is engaged in sexual activity or not); or

promote, incite or instruct in matters of crime or violence

RC

2

Films (except RC films) that:

contain real depictions of actual sexual activity between consenting adults in which there is no violence, sexual violence, sexualised violence, coercion, sexually assaultive language, or fetishes or depictions which purposefully demean anyone involved in that activity for the enjoyment of viewers, in a way that is likely to cause offence to a reasonable adult; and

are unsuitable for a minor to see

X 18+

3

Films (except RC films and X 18+ films) that are unsuitable for a minor to see

R 18+

4

Films (except RC films, X 18+ films and R 18+ films) that depict, express or otherwise deal with sex, violence or coarse language in such a manner as to be unsuitable for viewing by persons under 15

MA 15+

5

Films (except RC films, X 18+ films, R 18+ films and MA 15+ films) that cannot be recommended for viewing by persons who are under 15

M

6

Films (except RC films, X 18+ films, R 18+ films, MA 15+ films and M films) that cannot be recommended for viewing by persons who are under 15 without the guidance of their parents or guardians

PG

7

All other films

G

Computer games

Computer games are to be classified in accordance with the following table:

Item

Description of computer game

Classification

1

Computer games that:

depict, express or otherwise deal with matters of sex, drug misuse or addiction, crime, cruelty, violence or revolting or abhorrent phenomena in such a way that they offend against the standards of morality, decency and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults to the extent that they should not be classified; or

describe or depict in a way that is likely to cause offence to a reasonable adult, a person who is, or appears to be, a child under 18 (whether the person is engaged in sexual activity or not); or

promote, incite or instruct in matters of crime or violence

RC

2

Computer games (except RC computer games) that are unsuitable for viewing or playing by a minor

R 18+

3

Computer games (except RC and R 18+ computer games) that depict, express or otherwise deal with sex, violence or coarse language in such a manner as to be unsuitable for viewing or playing by persons under 15

MA 15+

4

Computer games (except RC, R 18+ and MA 15+ computer games) that cannot be recommended for viewing or playing by persons who are under 15

M

5

Computer games (except RC, R 18+, MA 15+ and M computer games) that cannot be recommended for viewing or playing by persons who are under 15 without the guidance of their parents or guardians

PG

6

All other computer games

G

Glossary

Term/ abbreviation

Explanation

ACMA

Australian Communications and Media Authority

ACA Scheme

Additional Content Assessor Scheme

Advertising Scheme

The Advertising of Unclassified Films and Computer Games Scheme

APS

Australian Public Service

ATSA Scheme

Authorised Television Series Assessor Scheme

BSA

Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (Cth)

Call in

The Director of the Classification Board may call in a publication if he/she has reasonable grounds to believe it is a submittable publication and that it is being published in an Australian state or territory
The Director of the Classification Board may also call in a film or computer game if he/she has reasonable grounds to believe it is not exempt and that it is being published in an Australian state or territory

A statutory appointee to the Classification Board established under the Classification Act

Classification Branch

The Classification Branch of the Attorney-General’s Department. Classification Branch officers provided administrative support to the Classification Board and Classification Review Board

Classification guidelines

Guidelines on the application of the National Classification Code, approved by Ministers with responsibility for classification. There are the Guidelines for the Classification of Films, the Guidelines for the Classification of Computer Games and the Guidelines for the Classification of Publications

Classification Review Board

Statutory body established under the Classification Act. The Classification Review Board is a part-time statutory body convened, as required, to review decisions made by the Classification Board

Classification Review Board member

Statutory appointee to the Classification Review Board under the Classification Act

Code, the

The National Classification Code

Computer games classifications
G
PG
M
MA 15+
R 18+
RC

General
Parental guidance recommended
Recommended for mature audiences
Not suitable for people under 15. Under 15s must be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian
Restricted to 18 years and over
Refused Classification

Consumer advice

The Classification Board and Classification Review Board determine consumer advice for films, computer games and certain publications. Films classified G, PG, M, MA 15+, R 18+ and X 18+, and computer games classified G, PG, M, MA 15+ and R 18+, must be assigned consumer advice. Consumer advice generally gives information about the content of the film or game, the principal elements that contributed to the classification of the product and indicates the intensity and/or frequency of those elements. The Classification Board and the Classification Review Board may also provide consumer advice to publications classified Unrestricted

Convenor

Member of the Classification Review Board who is responsible for the management of the Classification Review Board’s business

Customs

Department of Immigration and Border Protection

Deputy Convenor

Member of the Classification Review Board who may exercise some of the Convenor’s powers in the Convenor’s absence

Deputy Director

Full-time member of the Classification Board who may exercise some of the Director’s powers in the Director’s absence

Determined markings

Classification symbols, descriptions and consumer advice lines, as determined by the Director as set out in the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) (Markings and Consumer Advice) Determination 2014

Director

Full-time member of the Classification Board responsible for the management of the Classification Board

Exemptions to show an unclassified film at an event

An organisation may apply to the Director of the Classification Board for exemption from state and territory classification enforcement legislation to screen an unclassified film at an event. A person may also apply for an exemption

Exempt computer game

A computer game exempt from classification requirements as defined by section 5B of the Classification Act

Exempt film

A film exempt from classification requirements as defined by section 5B of the Classification Act

Fee waiver

The waiving of classification application fees by the Director in specific circumstances, as provided by the Classification Act

General
Parental guidance recommended
Recommended for mature audiences
Not suitable for people under 15. Under 15s must be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian
Restricted to 18 years and over
Restricted to 18 years and over
Refused Classification

FOI Act

Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth)

FOI

Freedom of information

Guidelines

Legislative instruments which provide direction on the application of the National Classification Code, approved by ministers with responsibility for classification. Separate guidelines exist for the classification of films, computer games and publications

Industry assessors

Persons authorised by the Director to make recommendations to the Classification Board on the classification and consumer advice for:
computer games that are likely to be classified G, PG or M; or
additional content accompanying previously classified or exempt film/s on DVD or other media storage devices; or
certain television series released on DVD or other media storage devices.
There are also industry assessors who are authorised to assess the likely classification of unclassified films and/or computer games for advertising purposes

National Classification Scheme

A cooperative Commonwealth, state and territory regulatory scheme for classification of films, computer games and certain publications

National Classification Code (the Code)

A code that sets out how films, computer games and certain publications are to be classified

Prohibited Exports Regulations

Customs (Prohibited Exports) Regulations 1958 (Cth)

Prohibited Imports Regulations

Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956 made under section 50 of the Customs Act 1901 (Cth); Regulation 4A relates to the importation of publications (including films and computer games and other goods)

Unrestricted
Not available to persons under 18 years
Not available to persons under 18 years
Refused Classification

Serial classification declaration

A declaration issued by the Classification Board on the classification and any conditions that apply to issues of a periodical for a specified period

State and territory ministers with responsibility for classification matters

The Law, Crime and Community Safety Council (LCCSC) assists the Council of Australian Governments by developing a national and trans-Tasman focus on fighting crime and promoting best practice in law, criminal justice and community safety. The LCCSC consists of ministers with responsibilities for law and justice, police and emergency management. Classification policy matters may be considered by ministers via the LCCSC.

Submittable publication

An unclassified publication that is unsuitable for a minor to see or read, and likely to cause offence to a reasonable adult to the extent that the publication should not be sold or displayed as an unrestricted publication